The working-hours of all the girls extended from five o'clock in the morning until seven in the evening, with one-half hour for breakfast and for dinner. even the doffers were forced to be on duty nearly fourteen hours a day, and this was the greatest hardship in the lives of these children. what inference can be drawn about factory work of the time period of the excerpt? working hours could be adjusted based on workers' ages. breaks were designed to allow families time to share meals. children were incapable of heavy labor, so production suffered. laws did not protect children from the demands of factory work.